Hmmm since I haven't seen a poll like this on here, just thought I'd toss one up. Of course, it won't be all inclusive, just putting up the calibers I can think of offhand, so will have an others section, feel free to put down another preferred choice.
I'm thinking whitetails in mind, since they are generally found everywhere and thus the more commonly hunted species, however feel free to chime in with elk, moose, sitka, blacktail, mule, etc.

11-23-2008, 07:34 AM

JagFarlane

Poll does allow for multiple choices, btw.

Was raised on shotgun hunting, as there is no deer rifle season in NJ. Used to carry a Kmart 16ga, and later progressed to a Remington 870 chambered in 12ga.
Next year will be my new X-bolt in .270 Winchester :D for chasing down whitetails in NY.

11-23-2008, 09:33 AM

TOF

My model 88 Winchester in .308 has handled every thing from Javelina to Elk for me over the past 47 years. The longest tracking job I ended up with was around 50 feet.

:mrgreen:

11-23-2008, 12:25 PM

BeefyBeefo

Anytime I've gone deer hunting it was with a 30-30 or 30-06. :smt023

-Jeff-

11-23-2008, 04:10 PM

JeffWard

I now own my MOM'S "Majic Rifle". This .308 chambered Ruger M-77 has been fired at game (Whitetail, Black Bear, and North Cape Caribou) a total of 9 times. It has take 7 animals, and NEVER missed... Maybe my Mom's just a damn good shot... She had to shoot one of her caribou twice, as it was RUNNING and took the first round through the liver. The second round took the shoulder, and it went one more step. The only other time she required 2 shots was a whitetail that was hit, went about 20 yards and laid down. It was quite convinced it was not dead yet, when she arrived upon it, and it stood up on three legs. One more through the ribs finished that...

2 caribou, (one with a 56" spread in the main beams, in VELVET).
1 black bear
5 whitetail deer...

9 shots...

I guess good shooting is in the genes...

Dad's no slouch, since he took at least 30 whitetails, 1 caribou, 2 black bears, and hundreds of small critters in his time... But his squeeze/kill-ratio doesn't match Mom's... LOL Dad used a 243, and a 30-06 for most of his. A few with the 870 leaning in the corner of my closet.

Jeff

11-23-2008, 10:13 PM

buck32

Deer Caliber?

Similar to HG's, the cartridge you know is going to hit where you aim and are comfortable shooting. I have taken deer with 30-06, .308, 7MM, 270, 25-06, .54 muzzleloader, 12 Gauge and archery. Out of all these it boils down to what you can shoot accurately, knowing where the bullet hits at (X) yards and your competency in accurately shooting the firearm.:smt023

11-23-2008, 10:16 PM

buck32

A little retraction here.

I would not condone shooting a deer with a .22 caliber rifle or pistol. Keep with in the limits of you local Department of Fish & Game, Natural Resources, etc. But of the calibers listed in the above poll it comes down to knowing your firearm and its capacities.

11-23-2008, 10:28 PM

Joeywhat

I've used a 30-30, 30-06 and .270 win for deer. Never actually taken one, though...seems whenever I go only the does show...and when I get a doe tag they all go somewhere else :smt076

I like my .270 the best, though. My 30-06 is a pump, and I don't care much for that in a hunting rifle. The .270 is a bolt gun, and is VERY accurate. Recoil isn't too bad, either.

12-01-2008, 08:01 PM

knoxrocks222

.308 bar and my .270

12-01-2008, 09:24 PM

crappler

I use a .35 remington and i love it..but just recently purchased a 30.06 and so far soo good..Only thing is ive only been out 2 times do too some family problems..So next year Ill have to make up some time in the woods..

12-01-2008, 09:35 PM

niadhf

Throught the years... 20 ga, 16 ga, 12 ga, 45-70 6.5 jap, .50 BP, 32-20 (an yes it does fine thank you) and i got a 30-30 this year. Of them all, I tend to reach for the NEF 45-70 single shot 9 times outa ten.

12-12-2008, 11:24 PM

Mossyhorns

I have a 270 win, a 243, and a 30-30 that I use for whitetail deer, I take the 30-30 more times than not and have killed my fair share of deer with it. I like the 270 for fields or powerlines with longer shots. I do not particularly like the 243 for deer, but it was a gun that my wife's late father had and we inherited it.

12-17-2008, 10:03 AM

Ram Rod

6.5x55 here. Not a frequent deer hunter, but a reloader. 140gr A-Max

12-29-2008, 12:54 PM

archer39

i shot the majority of my deer with my .270, but have killed others with the 30-30. Currently use my bolt action 12 gauge because rifles are not allowed where i hunt now.

01-03-2009, 08:48 AM

bps3040

My Bow, but before that (20 or so years ago) 30.06

01-03-2009, 08:57 AM

BT2Flip

30.06 gets my vote
:smt023

01-03-2009, 08:58 PM

lovain1932

interesting side note I was hunting this november with my browning 30-06 abolt apparently I somehow knocked my scope out and wound up hitting a doe in the backbone I was amazed at the damage the exit wound was unbelievable

01-13-2009, 02:37 PM

will

I love the 308 and 270.

01-13-2009, 11:31 PM

DevilsJohnson

with a Rifle I have a 30 30 (Winchester Mod. 94) But I also like going with a Ruger Super Redhawk with a 9.5" bbl chambered in 44 mag.

01-29-2009, 01:12 AM

oak1971

I like .308 it works most any game in North America. Lots of loads, weights and bullet types to choose from. Here is my hunting rifle. Yes, I do hunt with it. AR-10 in .308